Excel Polymers Dyersburg, Tenn., plant focuses not only providing excellent customer service and state-of-the-art production, but on the community in which it is located.

With an annual production capacity of 250 million pounds, Dyersburg is the largest Excel Polymers plant. The high-tech internal mixers, ranging from 200 - 620 liters, run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, mixing from one to more than 500 batches per production order. The 27H mixer is the largest mixer for hire.

Our portfolio of machinery includes tangential and intermesh mixers as well as calendering capabilities. Dyersburg also produces Accu-way®, Desical®, Polybound®, and Stan Mag® product lines, which were formerly produced in Wynne, Ark. These products support the Performance Additives portion of Excel.

The Dyersburg operation began as Colonial Rubber Works in 1955 with about 50 employees. After 50 years in business, our now more than 500 employees are still committed to customer excellence, exceptional operational performance and confidentiality. More than half of the workforce has 15 years of seniority and the combined experience is nearly 7,000 years.

Dyersburg has the capability of handling customer raw material inventories, and we have the ability to be a single source of supply because of the availability of multiple machines. The plant quality system is maintained and certified under ISO/TS 16949. The backbone of our production system is driven by LEAN business practices. Our emphasis on Lean manufacturing has allowed us to remain competitive in very tough markets.

Dyersburg employees work and play in our community and believe in doing all they can to make it a better place to live by being involved.

In 1995, a Relay for Life team was formed to fight cancer, and employees conducted fund-raisers all year to raise money for our team. Employees from all areas of the plant participated in the annual event washing cars, selling barbeque bologna, having yard sales and selling tickets for hot air balloon rides. Our team was so enthusiastic and had so much fun while working toward our fund-raising goal that the local Relay Board created the "M. A. Hanna Spirit Award," which is now given annually to the most enthusiastic team participating in the Dyer County Relay for Life. As time went by, the team decided to expand the charitable contributions to other areas of need. Now donations are given to many organizations. Total funds raised and donated to date are in excess of $125,000.

Two fundraisers became traditions and they are now the backbone of our charitable efforts. Aluminum cans are picked up from special containers throughout the plant and periodically sold. Two of our women employees make and sell sausage and biscuits three mornings a week. These activities are done voluntarily on the employee's own time.

Many years ago during a catered dinner at the plant, a few employees volunteered to use large grills and cook for the plant. The first offerings were hot dogs and hamburgers, and they were delicious. Later, the Management Team asked the Cooking Team to cook steaks as a reward for achieving a safety goal, and management would help cook and serve. This team was one of the first big money makers for Relay for Life by selling barbeque bologna. The largest sale to date involved 1,000 pounds of bologna!

Eventually word got out that Colonial Rubber (later M.A. Hanna then PolyOne and presently Excel Polymers) were great with a grill. The team travels all over west Tennessee cooking for fund-raisers and nonprofit organizations. The menu has expanded to include pork shoulder, pork ribs, hamburgers, hotdogs, steak and the famous barbeque bologna.

The Dyersburg plant has gone through many changes during the last 50 years. The associates have accepted changes in ownership, multiple name changes and a fast-paced revolution in technology. Through all the changes, the plant has remained vigilant keeping service and quality at the forefront and demanding that customer satisfaction serves as the guiding principal in all we do.

In business and community affairs the Dyersburg operation is a "Can Do" team. What can we do for you? For more information, please contact Tim Dunagan at (731) 287-3053.

© 2004 EXCEL Polymers LLC.